Murder of Laura Foster, Lyric Variant 02

This item is part of the I. G. Greer Folksong Collection which consists of more than 300 individual song titles and their variants as collected by Isaac Garfield Greer (1881-1967) from informants, primarily in Ashe, Wilkes and Watauga counties. The collection includes manuscripts, typescript transcriptions produced by Dr. Greer’s clerical staff, and handwritten musical notations. Songs range from traditional Child Ballads, traditional English and Scottish ballads as well as their American variants, to 19th century popular music to musical compositions of local origin.

Foster, Laura, -1865 or 1866--Songs and music

Murder--Songs and music

Folk songs--United States--North Carolina

Tragedy of the Death of Laura Foster

AC.113 Isaac Garfield (I.G.) Greer Papers and Recordings

W. L. Eury Appalachian Collection, Appalachian State University

Greer, I. G. (Isaac Garfield), 1881-1967

PDF

English

Text

Laura Foster

This tragedy I now relate
‘Tis of poor Laura Foster’s fate
How by a fickle lover She
was hurried into eternity.

Ere sun declined toward the west
She met and his wild guest
In forest wild the three retreat,
She looked for parson there to meet.

Confidingly upon his breast,
She leaned her head to take some rest,
But soon poor Laura felt a smart
A deadly dagger pierced her hear

No shrieks were heard by neighbors round
All were in bed and sleeping sound ^
No shrieks were heard so loud and shrill
Save those who did poor Laura kill.

Brown, North Carolina Ballads - 302 Laws, F 36

113_MurderOfLauraFoster_Lyric_02